Introduction / History

The Sumra is a Muslim community of Gujarat named after Samara, a place in Iran, where their ancestor Mohamed Haneef Ali had settled. They had migrated to Kutch and then to Saureshtra in Sindh. Stories of their migration are recalled in their folk lore and oral traditions. Traditionally they were warriors. They live in Gujarat, India but mostly in Pakistan's Sindh Province. Those in India speak Gujarati.

What Are Their Lives Like?

At present they are involved in business, agriculture, government, and private service.
They prefer marriages between cousins. Widows are allowed to remarry. The marriage rituals start with betrothal ceremony in accordance with Islamic customs at the bride's residence. As Muslims, they bury their dead.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The people are Sunni Muslims who believe that the supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are also prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, deceiving, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship.
The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.
Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.
In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.

What Are Their Needs?

The Sumra Sindhi need to accept the warm embrace of the only savior so they can enjoy spiritually meaningful lives.

Prayer Points

Pray for Sumra Sindhi disciples to make more disciples.
Pray for the Sumra people to have adequate facilities for electricity, education and transportation.
Pray for spiritual hunger and discernment so they will be open to the person of Jesus Christ.
Pray for the Lord to send his ambassadors for Christ to the Sumra Sindhi people.

Scripture Prayers for the Sindhi Sumra in India.

References

India Missions Association, Edited by Philipose Vaidyar, Copyrighted © Used with permission
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaikhs_in_South_Asia